reston_ray
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posted on June 5, 2001 09:52:16 PM new
OK, Let's see how good you guys really are. ID help please
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6 feet tall, weighs about 75 lbs., yes that is a globe on it's head and it lights up, indoor usage, socket suggests it is not recent, 50 watts, slightly more green than the image shows, maybe plaster of paris or some like material formed over a metal frame, no markings of any kind and set on a wood base.
I thought Vegas cocktail lounge but a native of there denies even Vagas has these.
Well I'm getting the red X so URL is below and , hopefully , some kind soul will post a usable link.
www190.pair.com/topper/statue1.jpg ... statue 3 then 2
Who made them, why, what for, how much, what does the clothing and pose suggest as depicting as the dancer representing, from which period or any of the above?
Given to our charity yardsale that is being held this week by a church (or church worker) without any history known.
Come on now..80 year old ladies are counting on you for new Bingo equipement money.
If you can direct me to it's matching twin I understand we can really make some money.
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yorequest
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posted on June 5, 2001 09:58:41 PM new
Hmmmmm.
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Zazzie
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posted on June 5, 2001 09:59:21 PM new
A Roman centurian with a bright idea.
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joice
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:00:59 PM new
(Don't forget the http:// part)
[$img]http://www190.pair.com/topper/statue1.jpg[$/img] without the $'s
Packer's got it for you!
Joice
[email protected]
[ edited by joice on Jun 5, 2001 10:04 PM ]
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packer
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:02:25 PM new
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packer
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:03:33 PM new
joice, you beat me 
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reston_ray
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:04:05 PM new
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packer
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:06:18 PM new
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packer
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:08:05 PM new
darn.....beat again 
it sure is ugly...hehehe
packer
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mcjane
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:12:29 PM new
Looks like one for the Antique Roadshow. So awful, it's probably worth a fortune as it has to be rare, I mean how many of those could a store sell.
All kidding aside, it looks like it came out of an eccentric millionaires home...of course from long ago. Might be valuable, research it.
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yorequest
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:15:35 PM new
Cigar Store Centurian? If it was mine, I'd pay somebody at least $500.00 to get it out of the house. 
First one I've ever seen, has to be worth at least a few quid just because it's so different. Ceasar speachifying? Brutus post knife blade deposit? Something standing in the shadows of the living room that you spot out of the corner of your eye late at night, half asleep and heading for the fridge, that necessitates changing your shorts? 
Neat piece, if I find anything comparible before the weekend I'll let you know. Not common, that's for sure.
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mcjane
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:22:00 PM new
yourequest Funny post, can't stop laughing.
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shaani
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:25:49 PM new
Kind of tacky but kind of cool! I would love to have it for our shop. Great pose and neat outfit. I like the sunshine on it.
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brie49
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:29:59 PM new
This lamp has one up on that "Leg Lamp" from the classic movie shown at Christmas. Can't remember the movie name... you know which one, the "You can't have a BB gun for Christmas because you'll shoot your eye out," movie.
Tell the Bingo lady who donated it to take it back! Only kidding...
Anyway, looks like the lady could be from Greek Mythology. But I agree, it will bring in some good money on eBay. You won't believe some of the things I have sold, and the amount of money the people will pay!
Important to remember though is the title and description. Yikes, how do you describe that one? Also, how you gonna ship it?
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yorequest
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:32:00 PM new
mcjane; I'm the jumpy type. First thing that came into my head when I saw it standing in that living room is how it could scare the bejesus out of me. That's why I'd pay handsomely.....hey, wonder if she's really that old or her hair's white for another reason? She's probably only 28. 
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Zazzie
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:33:33 PM new
Athenas--Goddess of War with a Bright Idea
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yorequest
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:36:36 PM new
brie49, "A Christmas Story" with Peter Billingsley - My all time favorite movie for the holiday season! "It's a major award!"
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ibuypaper
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posted on June 5, 2001 10:50:26 PM new
This is a rare statue depicting the invention of Ex-Lax.
The person has recently taken a strange mix of herbs in the hope that it will cure their constipation. Notice the extreme discomfort shown in their expression.
The Greco-Roman centurion garb indicates the general time period. The sun over the abdomen represents the burning activity in the gut.
The position of the hands represents the success of the medication... one is raised in a desparate plea for some parchment or paper; the other is in position to um, well, you know... and the legs are slightly spread, indicating that this person is beginning the famous "run for the bathroom".
And the light bulb represents the Bright Idea the person is having to SELL the herb mix to other sufferers!!!
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newguy
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posted on June 5, 2001 11:51:57 PM new
Also notice the underwear around the knees.
It's a Bordello lamp.
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nisbet
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posted on June 6, 2001 12:43:15 AM new
It's actually proof that the English did not invent the game of soccer.
The statue shows a Roman of around the 100B.C. Era in a natty sportswear uniform of the Pompeii Sunshine SPQRFC, leaping to head the ball. The pad at the top of the head was used to protect the skull due to the fact that the balls of that time were made of marble.
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smw
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posted on June 6, 2001 03:24:25 AM new
Ray, This fine example of a mishmash of Greco-Roman and Etruscan sculptor, (replete with an attempt at a contra-posto stance), looks to me as if it was used to light the way for customers in front of an Italian restaurant. You know the sort of restaurant; red flocked wallpaper, plastic flowers, etc... Where in the world did you get this abomination? Did it come from Virginia or the District? What makes it look so bizarre is the light on its head. It seems to me that I have seen a sort of similar Roman Centurion done in marble somewhere, (sans light growing out his head.) This is a really bad copy.
[ edited by smw on Jun 6, 2001 03:32 AM ]
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tomwiii
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posted on June 6, 2001 04:13:08 AM new
I'll give ya 3 BidBay Bucks for it!
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gravid
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posted on June 6, 2001 04:33:43 AM new
I know exactly the house where I could pull up and sell that - thing-. In Macolm county near here (MI) there is a subdivision and all the other houses have normal grass and shrubs. In the middle of one block is a house with no grass - white stones only. There are two huge brick gate posts that would be appropriat for a 200 acre spread, and in the yard are concrete greek and roman statues mixed with kissing Dutch kids /swans/windmill/fountain/mirror ball and a concrete donkey with a sombrero pulling a two wheel cart.
The way the arms are maybe it was in front of a disco?
My wife calls this kind of stuff Chatch-ka - anyone know where that word comes from?
[ edited by gravid on Jun 6, 2001 04:36 AM ]
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zeenza
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posted on June 6, 2001 05:01:54 AM new
Sure looks like a Vegas pathway light fixture. Would not want to ship that puppy.
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warsawkid
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posted on June 6, 2001 05:42:57 AM new
I think we should throw in a couple of bucks each for the charity, and have it shipped to Meg's house. Isn't she doing a house remodel with all her new profits?
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Meya
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posted on June 6, 2001 07:24:59 AM new
This description is compliments of a friend of mine:
Early depiction of an Olympic Games participant? The light probably replaced an urn or other vessel that held water, wine, oil. Can't you see fields of these "persons" darting back and forth in some sort of balancing/foot race? This one obviously won - hence the "Ta-dah" stance.
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rca001
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posted on June 6, 2001 09:33:35 AM new
Gravid-
a Chatch-ka (or whatever variation you want to use to spell it) is Yiddish, which is in itself sort of a combination of German and eastern European languages.
RestonRay -
nice Centurion. I agree, it looks like it could have come from Ceasar's Palace in Vegas. And I'm sure you'll find an ebayer of latin descent who can't wait to put it in his/her front yard.
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reston_ray
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posted on June 6, 2001 09:42:40 AM new
Most specific lead to date.
City Island, Bronx, NY. (from an old story in a local Bronx newspaper.)
"Visitors to the island who came by boat would be cheered to see one of its landmarks: a statue of a Roman soldier, with a beacon lamp atop his helmet. This sentinel once stood on a dock that is now displaced by the Captain’s Cove development, and if anyone can recite a poem, The Roman Soldier, he or she is a rare clam digger!"
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smw
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posted on June 6, 2001 10:29:20 AM new
Ray, It seems likely that this is the Roman soldier. How many can there be with lights growing out of their heads? Now the next question is how did it get to Virginia from the Bronx ?
I am also interested to know if anyone is actually willing to own up to making or designing it.
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reston_ray
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posted on June 6, 2001 10:52:31 AM new
The donation of this item was from an anonymous source, who insists they remain anonymous, and would provide no provenance.
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